Composite wire or the like

ABSTRACT

An elongated article usually in the form of a wire having a core of beryllium copper which is completely surrounded in cross section or clad by an alloy containing a plurality of metals with gold having the greatest percentage and particularly adapted for electrical purposes. In some cases there may be a barrier between the core and the outer cladding to prevent migration between the cladding and the core.

limited tates Ptem Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignce COMPOSITE WIRE OR THE LIKE 5 Claims, No Drawings US. Cl

Int. Cl Field of Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,608,753 9/1952 Mooradian 29/199 3,302,280 2/1967 La Plante 29/199 X Primary Examiner-L. Dewayne Rutledge Assistant Examiner-E. L. Weise AnorneyBarlow and Barlow ABSTRACT: An elongated article usually in the form of a wire having a core of beryllium copper which is completely surrounded in cross section or clad by an alloy containing a plurality of metals with gold having the greatest percentage and particularly adapted for electrical purposes. In some cases there may be a barrier between the core and the outer cladding to prevent migration between the cladding and the core.

1 COMPOSITE WIRE OR THE LIKE 247 which have been platinum-con- These two materials each have a normal composition as follows:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The article comprises a core with a cladding embracing the l as the beryllium copper of the core so that vantageously heat-treated together. There is also present a A 10 percent by weight cladding has been found satisfactory although this percentage may be widely varied.

centage as follows:

gld56.25 copper-2 l .00 palladium- 10.50 silver5.25 nickel-5.25 zinc l .75

E Dcsignutimi Ni C Mn S Sl M l 25 0. l 0. 005 0. 05 0. 05 Nick L 0 ,5 0. 01 0.20 0.1 0 0.05 0.05 Nigk l205... 00.5 0. 00 0.20 0.10 0.005 0.05 0.05 0,02 Mg 0.04 Nick"! 220 00.5 0.00 0.12 0.05 0.005 0.03 0.03 0.02 Mg 0.04 Nick 33 00, 5 0. 00 0.10 0. 05 0.005 0.03 0.01 0. 003 Mg 0.06 Nickpl 233 U0. 5 0. 0!) 0. l8 0. 05 0. 005 0. 03 0.03 0.003 Mg 0.07 Nirkvl 270.. 00.08 0.01 0.001 0.001 0. 001 0. 001 o.0o1 o.0o1 0. 001 ig gg core. A beryllium copper core has excellent spring characteristics, high-bulk electrical conductivity and excellent formability, and is a low-density material for reduced contact bounce while the covering or cladding over the core can be heat-treated in the same temperature range as the core, with cations in relays.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The article comprises an elongated form, such as wire, hav- The core is beryllium copper which contains percentteristics and the electrical conductivity and also for low-density material for reduced contact bounce and ease of formability.

The cladding or coating completely encircles the core in cross section and is an alloy containing the following composition percentages by weight:

gold to 60 palladium-9.6 to 14.4

silver-4.8 to 7.2

copperl9.2 to 28.80

nickel-4.8 to 7.2

zinc-1.6 2.4 This cladding alloy is chosen for its excellent corrosion resistance on a contact surface, its excellent contact wear, the fact that it is suitable for welding, brazing or soldering together with the fact that it has the same temperature range The above com a low-cost substitute for solid gold or platinum results in excellent wear characteristics; and they are age hardenable.

Some typical properties exhibited of the composite wire Condl- Young's Ultimate tensile Elongation Maten'al tlon Modulus strength (p.s.l.) (percent) Invention A 79, O0 45 226 the two may be ad- In the above table, the letter A represents the solution annealed condition: The letter H, which may be preceded by a number, represents a degree of work hardening: and the letter I T following either A or H indicates that an age-hardening 2. A clad metal as in claim 1 wherein the core contains beryllium l.80-2.05 nickel or cobalt or some of each 0.20-0.60

copper balance to lOOpercent 3. A clad metal as in claim 1 wherein the cladding material 15 gold-56.25

palladium-10.50

silver-5.25

nickel5.25

zinc-1.75

4. A clad metal as in claim 1 wherein there is a barrier metal between the core and cladding, the barrier material having nickel in a percentage by weight of over 99 percent.

5. A clad metal as in claim 1 wherein the barrier metal is 99.5 percent nickel.

t I I I I 

2. A clad metal as in claim 1 wherein the core contains beryllium 1.80- 2.05 nickel or cobalt or 0.20-0.60 some of each balance to 100percent
 3. A clad metal as in claim 1 wherein the cladding material is gold-56.25 palladium-10.50 silver-5.25 copper-21. nickel-5.25 zinc-1.75
 4. A clad metal as in claim 1 wherein there is a barrier metal between the core and cladding, the barrier material having nickel in a percentage by weight of over 99 percent.
 5. A clad metal as in claim 1 wherein the barrier metal is 99.5 percent nicKel. 